345/55R18 vs 355/50R18
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.9 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 345/55R18 | 355/50R18 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 32.9" | 32.0" | -2.9 % |
| Sidewall | 7.47" | 6.99" | -6.5 % |
| Section width | 345 mm | 355 mm | +2.9 % |
| Circumference | 103.5" | 100.5" | -2.9 % |
| Revs per mile | 612 | 631 | +2.9 % |
| Axle height | 16.47" | 15.99" | -12.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 9.5–12.5" | 10–13" | overlap 10–12.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 10" to 12.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 345/55R18. Fit 355/50R18 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 50 mph | 48.5 mph | -1.5 |
| 70 mph | 68.0 mph | -2.0 |
| 90 mph | 87.4 mph | -2.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,707 on the road, so it over-counts by 293. At a true 70 mph the first turns 714 times a minute, the second 736.